Louisburg junior Megan Quinn makes contact with a pitch last week. Quinn finished with two home runs last week against Tonganoxie and Bonner Springs.

It may have not ended its week with a win, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom — in fact it was quite the opposite.

The Lady Cats took away several positives from their contests against Bonner Springs, and most recently, Tonganoxie.

On Thursday at Lewis-Young Park, the Lady Cats put together one of their better games of the season against one of the top teams in the Frontier League. Louisburg stayed within striking distance, but came up just short in a 6-4 loss to the Chieftains

“Tongie is a great team,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Going into this game, we knew that they had beaten some good teams early like Spring Hill. We played about as well as we have. We just needed to be more consistent at the plate. I think right now we are one or two plays away from being a great team and playing to our potential.”

Louisburg (3-8) found itself down, 3-0, to Tonganoxie (5-1) after one inning, but the Lady Cat offense kept chipping away.

Junior Megan Quinn got the offense kick started with a solo home run in the bottom of the second — her second long ball in as many games.

Tonganoxie scored two more in the third to make it a 5-1 advantage, but the Lady Cats answered right back. Junior Jenna Cauthon singled home Katie McKain and Ashley Moreau to keep the deficit at two runs.

Sophomore Brynley Bauer trimmed the Tonganoxie lead to one in the sixth on an RBI single that scored Addy Stohs. However, the Chieftains tacked on a run in the seventh and the Lady Cats could get no closer.

Izzy Moreland got the start for Louisburg and kept the Lady Cats in it as she pitched six innings and struck out three. Quinn came on in relief in the final inning and struck out a batter.

Offensively, the Lady Cats are starting to find a groove at the plate. Moreau, the team’s leadoff hitter, has a .550 average on the season.

Moreland, Cauthon and Quinn are also all batting over .300 through 11 games and have all tallied big hits throughout the year.

Louisburg hopes to continue its improvement tomorrow as the Lady Cats travel to McPherson for a quad. The Lady Cats will square off with the host school first at 4 p.m. and then will either play Derby or Emporia in their next game.

Lady Cats fall in doubleheader to Bonner Springs

The Louisburg softball team showed fight last Tuesday in its home doubleheader against Bonner Springs, but lost a pair of games to the Braves, 7-2 and 12-8.

The Lady Cats couldn’t keep the Braves’ offense down as they combined in the 19 runs and 26 hits in the two games.

In the first game, Bonner Springs scored five runs in the third inning to take the early lead and it was all the Braves needed.

Ashley Moreau led Louisburg with a pair of hits and a run scored and Izzy Moreland had the team’s lone RBI. Jenna Cauthon, Megan Quinn and Katie McKain also had hits for the Lady Cats.

In the nightcap, Bonner Springs took an 11-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Lady Cats didn’t give up. Louisburg scored four runs in the sixth and another in the seventh, but fell short.

“We are executing more and more on defense,” Chapman said. “We ran into a good team that hit the ball really well consistently. We were not as consistent at the plate. I thought we hit well, but just started a little too late. I’m proud of how we came back in the second game down eight and we worked back to get it close.”

Moreau had two hits, including a double, to lead the Louisburg bats. Freshman Delaney Nelsen finished with a team-high 2 RBIs and a double.

Quinn hit solo home run late and Moreland also had an RBI single. McKain and freshman Shyloh Waite also had hits for Louisburg.

Louisburg sophomore Addy Stohs makes contact with a pitch during a game earlier this season. The Lady Cats scored 20 runs in Thursday’s doubleheader sweep of Wellsville.

WELLSVILLE — It had been a rough start to the season for the Louisburg softball team as the Lady Cats lost five of their first six games.

All that took a turn for the better Thursday when Louisburg traveled to Wellsville for a doubleheader. The Lady Cats pounded out 20 runs and left with a pair of 15-3 and 5-2 victories over the Eagles.

It was the kind of outing the whole team was waiting for as the Lady Cats were able to get back on the winning track.

“We needed to have a good night against Wellsville and we definitely did,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We adjusted some things at practice, the girls wanted to get better, and we did just that. I’m so proud of our girls and how they responded to some early adversity this season. We came out strong, played great team softball and got the job done last night.”

In the opener, Louisburg (3-5) found itself in a close game through three innings as the Lady Cats held a 5-3 lead going into the top of the fourth. It was there where the Lady Cats broke the game open.

They scored six runs in the fourth, and four in the fifth, to complete the run-rule victory.

Junior Ashley Moreau had a nice showing for Louisburg in that opening game as she went 4-for-4 with 3 RBIs, including a pair of doubles. Junior Jenna Cauthon and sophomore Addy Stohs also had 3 RBIs and a pair of hits.

Another junior, Izzy Moreland, finished with three hits, three runs scored and 2 RBIs. Freshman Delaney Nelsen had two hits and a run batted in. 

Sophomores Brynley Bauer and Katie McKain, along with freshman Shyloh Waite, also drove home a run. 

Junior pitcher Megan Quinn got the start and held Wellsville to just one earned run over four innings and picked up the win.

“Ashley had a fantastic night,” Chapman said. “She hit the ball hard and found gaps in their defense. She was also aggressive on the bases. She was fun to watch. But we also had several girls step up at the plate. 

“As a team, we finally hit the ball hard and found gaps. Addy, Jenna, and Izzy got their bats going as well. They all hit the ball hard and found gaps in the defense. Delaney and Shyloh played some great small ball. Katie and Brynley had a couple solid hits as well. Just overall, a great night at the plate and on the bases for us.”

Runs weren’t as plentiful in the nightcap for Louisburg and the Lady Cats found themselves down 2-0 going into the fourth inning. The Lady Cats were able to claw their way back.

Louisburg tied the game with two runs in the fourth and then took the lead with a run in the fifth. The Lady Cats added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth.

Moreau, Quinn, Stohs and Bauer all had two hits to lead the Lady Cat bats, while Moreau, Moreland, Bauer and Waite each had a run batted in. 

Moreland started the game on the mound for Louisburg and went four innings and gave up just one earned run. Quinn came in and pitched the final three innings and allowed four hits and no runs.

“It took us a little bit to get refocused in Game 2,” Chapman said. “We made a couple errors that allowed two runs to score, but we responded with some momentum changing plays that got us going. Izzy got out of a bases loaded situation only allowing only one run. Delaney, behind the plate, threw a girl out stealing for her first time. Shyloh made a huge play, throwing a girl out from center. 

“We pushed through a couple bad plays and created momentum for ourselves and eventually got going in the fourth inning. I’m proud of how we responded to adversity and worked as a team to get the job done.”

Louisburg will try and add to its win total tonight as the Lady Cats host Bonner Springs for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m. at Lewis-Young Park.

Lady Cats fall in doubleheader to Spring Hill

Louisburg went up against one of the top teams in the Frontier League last Tuesday as the Lady Cats traveled to Spring Hill.

The Broncos got the best of the Lady Cats from the opening pitch as they defeated Louisburg 17-0 in game one and 16-2 in the nightcap.

Katie McKain had the lone hit for Louisburg in the opener. Ashley Moreau and Jenna Cauthon each had two hits in the second game and Cauthon had both of the team’s RBIs.

Louisburg junior Olivia Fercho makes contact with a pitch Thursday during the Lady Cats’ home opener against Ottawa.

It wasn’t the outing the Louisburg softball team had hoped for in its home opener Thursday against Ottawa.

Louisburg couldn’t keep up with the Cyclones in a pair of 14-6 and 9-1 losses at Lewis-Young Park. Still, despite trailing in both games, the Lady Cats played hard to the end.

“We never gave up,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We had a chance in the first game to make a huge comeback. Our bats finally got hot in the sixth and seventh innings. We just gave them too much to start the game.”

In the first game, Ottawa started with five runs in the top of the second and eventually took a 10-0 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lady Cats avoided the run rule when junior Ashley Moreau singled home Shyloh Waite for the team’s first run.

Louisburg added four more runs in the sixth inning when Megan Quinn doubled home Izzy Moreland and Jenna Cauthon. Sophomore Katie McKain singled home Quinn and then scored on an RBI single by Waite to make it an 11-5 game.

Ottawa added three more runs in the seventh inning to all but seal the win for the Cyclones.

Cauthon, Moreland, Quinn and Waite each had two hits to lead the Lady Cat offense. Quinn’s 2-run double was the lone extra base hit for Louisburg.

In the nightcap, the Lady Cats struck first as they took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Moreau tripled and scored on a sacrifice by freshman Delaney Nelsen. 

Moreland started the game on the mound for the Lady Cats and didn’t allow a run till the fourth inning when Ottawa scored three in the frame. She also struck out three.

Quinn pitched the rest of the way for Louisburg and gave up just one earned run, but the Lady Cats committed six errors that hurt them down the stretch.

As a team, the Lady Cats had just four hits in the nightcap and Moreau had three of those as she scored the team’s lone run.

Louisburg will try and rebound today as it travels to Spring Hill for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

“We are going to get back to work at practice and get some things cleaned up and take on a very good Spring Hill, where we are going to have to play clean softball to beat them,” Chapman said. “I think we are very capable of doing that. We just have to do it.”

Louisburg freshman Delaney Nelsen puts a ball in play for the Lady Cats on Tuesday during their season opener at Baldwin. The Lady Cats lost the first game of the doubleheader, before bouncing back to win the nightcap, 8-1.

BALDWIN CITY — It took a little while for the Louisburg bats to heat up, but once they did, they didn’t stop producing.

The Lady Cats rallied for six straight runs in the opener Tuesday against Baldwin, but came up just short in an 8-7 loss in the first game of the doubleheader. 

Louisburg stayed hot in the nightcap as it put together an early lead and never looked back for the 8-1 win to earn the split.

“I am incredibly proud of how we played all night,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Our first game, Baldwin hit the ball really well and they were stubborn at the plate all night. They hit it hard to places where we weren’t. We got down and little by little we chipped away, but our rally just ran out of steam in that first game. It would have been easy for our girls to quit and move on to game two but they stuck with the process and showed a lot of maturity. 

“In game two our bats came alive early and often and we didn’t look back. It is already apparent that our upperclassmen have matured immensely and I’m so proud of them. They kept encouraging our younger girls and helped them work through their nerves and we had some underclassmen step up big time.”

In the second game, the Lady Cats got started early as they scored eight unanswered runs to take an 8-0 lead, going into the bottom of the six inning, before Baldwin ended the shutout with a run in the sixth.

Junior Ashley Moreau had a big night at the plate as she tallied four hits to go along with a run batted in. 

Another junior, Izzy Moreland, was also key the for the Lady Cats. She finished with two hits, including a double, and had 3 RBIs to go along with two walks. 

Sophomore Brynley Bauer and freshman Delaney Nelsen also had two hits each, while Bauer drove home a run. Freshman Paytyn Van Tyle finished with 2 RBIs.

Junior Megan Quinn also had a double for Louisburg and junior Jenna Cauthon scored a pair of runs.

“In between our games you could tell the girls weren’t satisfied and they knew the adjustments we needed to make and they did it,” Chapman said. “Izzy and Ashley both had great games at the plate; they both adjusted to sitting back and the softball and found barrels. 

“We had a lot of other girls do great things on the bases and put some great bunts down to move baserunners. Jenna had a couple steals off being smart and recognizing the catcher’s tendencies. Once we got through our first at bats of the season, we started finding our groove and then in game two we exploded.”

The Lady Cats also got strong pitching from both Quinn and Moreland. Quinn started the game and went five innings, didn’t give up a run and allowed just four hits.

Moreland finished the job as she pitched the final two innings of relief and gave up just one run on one hit and struck out two.

In the opener, Baldwin jumped out to an 8-1 lead into the top of the fifth inning before the Louisburg offense could find any rhythm. 

The Lady Cats nearly pulled off a memorable comeback as they scored six runs in the final three innings, but couldn’t secure the tying run. 

Moreland once again led the Louisburg bats with a pair of hits and two runs batted in. In their first varsity games, sophomore Katie McKain and freshmen Shyloh Waite and Nelsen also contributed. 

McKain and Waite each finished with a pair of hits and an RBI, while Nelsen had an RBI double. 

Throughout the doubleheader, the Lady Cats had six players who saw varsity action for the first time, which included junior Olivia Fercho and freshman Raeya Keagle, who each got their first varsity hit as well.

“Our younger girls definitely stepped up and contributed,” Chapman said. “Delaney Nelsen had a great night at the plate. Our overall defense was pretty solid for the most part. We committed three errors all night and they really didn’t stand out as errors that hurt us really. I’m just proud of this group and I’m excited where we go from here.”

Louisburg is back at it today as it hosts Ottawa for a doubleheader at Lewis-Young Park. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

Louisburg junior Jenna Cauthon (7) celebrates with teammate Sabra Brueggen after a big play last year. The Lady Cats return seven starters going into the 2023 season.

The Louisburg softball team doesn’t feature one senior on this season’s squad.

That lack of experience might make some a little nervous, but the Lady Cats still have a veteran look to them. 

Louisburg returns seven starters from last season’s team that finished with an 8-13 record — a year in which the Lady Cats improved by seven wins from the year before.

Now those players are a year older and Louisburg head coach Nick Chapman is hopeful that his team can take another step forward in its progression.

“We are returning a lot of girls,” Chapman said. “My expectations for both of our groups are high. On varsity, pretty much our entire infield is returning. We have a couple injuries that we are dealing with right now, but the younger girls are stepping up in practice and I think they are going to be a nice addition to our team. We will definitely have some experience this year which is going to be nice.

“The girls are working hard. They show up every day to get better and they are enjoying being together, which is nice to see.”

The Lady Cats bring back a good amount of experience on the mound as juniors Izzy Moreland and Megan Quinn return to anchor the pitching staff. Both Moreland and Quinn started several games last season and Moreland earned honorable mention all-league honors.

“Izzy and Megan are going to take on the pitching load this year,” Chapman said. “Both of them work hard year around to get better. They are both tough on the mound and very consistent. I’m excited to see what they bring to the team this season. What’s nice is they compliment each other very well and I think they will mess with teams in how they have to adjust to each of them.”

Louisburg also returns an experienced infield as four of the five starters are back. 

Junior Jenna Cauthon will hold down the third base spot, while junior Ashley Moreau will play shortstop. Quinn and Moreland will share first base responsibilities.

At catcher, sophomore Brynley Bauer will start behind the plate after seeing varsity time a year ago. She will be joined by freshman Delaney Nelson.

Another freshman will also see time in the infield as Shyloh Waite will get the start at second base.

“We are returning most of our infield,” Chapman said. “Jenna works very hard at third and gets better everyday and is very consistent. Ashley has been fantastic in practice and she’s gotten very confident at short. She’s fast and has been great at learning how to get to balls on either side of her and deep in the gaps. Megan and Izzy will be splitting time at first base when they aren’t pitching. 

“Shyloh came in from the first day of practice and impressed us immediately. She’s confident. She works her tail off and she’s willing to get dirty to make plays. I’m excited to see her in the field. As for catcher, Brynley has worked really hard to get better back there in the offseason and she’s become a fantastic vocal leader which is what I expect my catchers to be. Delaney has come in and impressed us back there as well.”

Injuries have hurt the Wildcat outfield as two returning starters — junior Rylee Hickey and sophomore Sabra Brueggen — will miss the first part of the season, but Chapman hopes to have them back later in the year.

The Lady Cats will fill those roles with sophomore Katie McKain, along with freshmen Addison Mallett and Paytyn Van Tyle. Nelson, Waite and Bauer will also see time there as well.

“Outfield wise we will be pretty new,” Chapman said. “We will have quite a few girls get reps out there and they have all done good things so far.”

With all those returning starters, also comes experience at the plate and Chapman knows what his players are capable of producing. 

“Our key to being successful at the plate is hitting with confidence,” he said. “We have a lot of great hitters that can get on base and score runners. We have hitters that are fast and smart and will be able to play small ball. I think we will be a well-rounded offense.”

The Lady Cats are ready to take another step forward, but to do so, they will have to navigate through a tough Frontier League schedule, which include state tournament teams from a year ago in Spring Hill, Eudora and Ottawa.

Louisburg opens its season today as the Lady Cats travel to Baldwin for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.

“Our goal is to be in the top three of our league,” Chapman said. “Our league is always tough, but I think we have a tough team and we are going to do some really good things this season. We lost by one in our regional semifinal round last year. I think this group is hungry to get after it and make a run at trying to get to state this year. We have focused on cleaning up our defense and doing the little things right. Our biggest key is to have fun playing softball and have fun playing with each other as a team.”

The Louisburg softball team saw a big improvement from a season ago as the Lady Cats went from one to eight wins this year.

That big jump caught the eye of the Frontier League coaches as three Louisburg players were named to the All-Frontier League softball team that was released last week.

Senior Mia Wilson was named to the second team, while sophomore Izzy Moreland was named as an honorable mention utility player and pitcher. Freshman Mackenzie Rooney was also named as an honorable mention.

“I think in the tough league we play in, and the amount of talent that is in our league, we were represented real well,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. 

Wilson was the lone senior on the Wildcat roster as she earned a second team spot on the infield. She was the team’s starting shortstop when she wasn’t on the pitching mound.

The Louisburg senior had a .414 average in 77 plate appearances and had 29 hits on the year. She finished the year with four doubles, a home run and had 24 RBIs.

“I don’t think I can stop saying good things about Mia,” Chapman said. “She earned this. She ended her career on a great note and she is going to be missed. She led our team and probably most of the league on a couple offensive categories. She became a great shortstop and even better leader. She is going to be missed in our program.”

Moreland was one of the Wildcats’ starting pitchers and also played a third base. She earned accolades with her arm and her bat.

At the plate, Moreland had a .386 average with 22 hits, five doubles and 15 RBIs in 68 plate appearances.

On the mound, Moreland gave up 30 earned runs in 49 innings off work and struck out 45 batters to just 25 walks. She also had an earned run average of 4.25.

“Izzy was a stud on the mound this year,” Chapman said. “Every game she pitched, she got better and she is going to be dangerous over the next couple of years. I’m very proud of her and how much she is growing.”

Rooney, who split time between softball and track this season, definitely made her mark in the outfield. As the team’s starting centerfielder, Rooney committed just one error on the year.

Offensively, she finished with a .409 batting average, 18 hits, four doubles, two triples and 9 RBIs as the team’s leadoff hitter. She also had four stolen bases on the year.

“Mack was a stud in the outfield,” Chapman said. “I don’t think there’s a play she can’t make. She definitely put the work in to earn this as accolade. She stayed after practice to get extra reps in, with her dual sporting and having to be at two practices a day. She is a hard worker and I can’t wait to see how much she grows.”

ALL-FRONTIER LEAGUE SOFTBALL

First Team

CATCHER — Reese Pattison, freshman, Eudora

PITCHER — Kira Baker, senior, Eudora; Maggie McNally, senior, Spring Hill

INFIELD — Emma Durr, senior, Eudora; Brooklyn Hadl, junior, Ottawa; Sage Gann, sophomore, Piper; Myia January, sophomore, Spring Hill

OUTFIELD — Zoey LaTessa, senior, Baldwin; Harper Schriener, senior, Eudora; Kirsten Evans, senior, Ottawa

UTILITY — Alex Powell, senior, Ottawa

Second Team

CATCHER — Teelie Super, junior, Bonner Springs

PITCHER — Carley Billings, senior, Bonner Springs; Emma Stottlemire, senior, Ottawa

INFIELD — Mia Wilson, senior, Louisburg; Kamden Evans, sophomore, Ottawa; Kate Ediger, senior, Paola; Riahn Pinkerton, senior, Spring Hill

OUTFIELD — Gabby Salazar, sophomore, Piper; Jaleigh White, freshman, Spring Hill; Kylie Vandervoort, junior, Tonganoxie

UTILITY — Ella Scoby, senior, Baldwin

Honorable Mention

CATCHER — Makayla Hirschmann, junior, Baldwin; Ellie Season, junior, Ottawa; Ava Kehl, junior, Paola; Delaney Hill, junior, Spring Hill

PITCHER — Izzy Moreland, sophomore, Louisburg; Madison Bell, senior, Paola; Vanessa Murray, senior, Spring Hill; Sage Isaacs, sophomore, Tonganoxie

INFIELD — Meghan Billings, senior, Bonner Springs; Wren Van Cleave, junior, Bonner Springs; Sam Claire, freshman, Eudora; Kenzie Yoder, sophomore, Eudora; Elli Han, senior, Eudora; Hannah Billesbach, senior, Paola; Kyia Fuller, senior, Paola; Kaia Cordill, senior, Piper; Gracie Bishop, senior, Spring Hill

OUTFIELD — Mackenzie Rooney, freshman, Louisburg; Krislyn Hadlock, freshman, Paola; Eden Troxel, junior, Paola; Bryn Brandon, senior, Paola; Coral Coallen, senior, Spring Hill; Mariah Herrera, sophomore, Tonganoxie

UTILITY — Emma Lara, freshman, Bonner Springs; Rylee Griffin, sophomore, Eudora; Izzy Moreland, sophomore, Louisburg; Santi Garcia, sophomore, Tonganoxie

Louisburg sophomore Izzy Moreland pitched a complete game Tuesday at the Class 4A regional in Eudora, but the Lady Cats lost a close game to Tonganoxie, 2-1.

EUDORA — It had been more than month since the Louisburg softball team squared off with Tonganoxie.

Back in early April, the Lady Cats fell to the Chieftains by a run and they were hoping to get some revenge Tuesday when it faced off with Tonganoxie in the first round of the Class 4A regional tournament.

Just like a month ago, one run was the difference.

Tonganoxie scored two in the first inning and the Lady Cats couldn’t overtake the Chieftains in a 2-1 loss at Eudora High School, that ended their season with an 8-13 record.

“We played about as well as we have played all year long,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “It came down to a couple plays in the first inning that we didn’t make. After that, our girls were lights out on defense. We did everything we could to give ourselves a chance.”

The Lady Cats opened the game with a lead as they scored their lone run in the first inning. Freshman Mackenzie Rooney reached on a bunt single, stole second and later scored on an error on a popup by Jenna Cauthon.

Tonganoxie answered with two runs in the bottom of the first and that was all it needed as Louisburg had just four hits the rest of the game.

Rooney finished with a team-high two hits, while Cauthon, Megan Quinn and Amaya Weilert each added a single.

“That pitcher was tough for us,” Chapman said. “She wasn’t overpowering by any means, but what she threw was effective. We could never fully get momentum going. She made us put the ball in play and we just couldn’t capitalize on a couple opportunities with runners in scoring position.”

Sophomore starter Izzy Moreland kept the Lady Cats in the game. Moreland gave up no earned runs on two hits and struck out three.

“Izzy had another great night,” Chapman said. “She worked all over the strike zone and used all of her pitches very effectively. She made them put the ball in play. She made plays in the field as well. Very proud of her and the progress she made all year long.”

The Lady Cats made strides during the 2022 season. After recording just one win a year ago, they finished this season with eight victories and were a couple runs away from reaching the regional title game.

“I think overall we made huge strides this year,” Chapman said. “We are still a young team, but finished 8-13 in a very tough Frontier League and I think we learned a lot about what it’s going to take moving forward to be even more successful. I’m very proud of all the girls and what we accomplished this year. Now we go into the offseason, looking to get better and come back stronger next year.”

Members of the Louisburg softball team gather on the infield prior to the start of an inning during a game earlier this season. The Lady Cats split with Piper on Thursday at Lewis-Young Park.

In a matchup that was postponed twice during the season, Louisburg and Piper finally squared off on the softball diamond Thursday in Louisburg.

It was the regular season finale for both teams and Louisburg was able to come away with one victory to help give the Lady Cats some momentum going into the postseason.

Louisburg used a big inning to get past Piper, 7-4, in the opener before falling in the nightcap, 17-1. The Lady Cats ended the regular season with an 8-12 record after only winning one game a year ago.

“That win was huge for us in terms of us seeing that we can play with any team,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “We played like we are capable of.”

Piper jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the opener, but the Lady Cats responded with seven unanswered runs, including a 5-run fourth inning.

In that fourth inning, freshman Sabra Brueggen broke open a tie game with a single that allowed freshman Addy Stohs to score and sophomore Rylee Hickey later scored on a passed ball.

After sophomore Jenna Cauthon singled home Brueggen, sophomore Izzy Moreland cleared the bases with a 2-run double that gave Louisburg a 7-1 lead.

“Their first two hitters were good and they helped them to a two run lead to start the game,” Chapman said. “We didn’t let that get to us. We put one run up the next inning. Another the inning after that and then our bats exploded for that big inning. We took team at-bats, put the ball in play and made things happen.”

Louisburg pounded out 14 hits, including a team-high three hits from senior Mia Wilson. Cauthon, Moreland, Stohs and Brueggen each finished with two hits, while Moreland and Cauthon had three and two runs driven in, respectively. 

On the mound, the combination of sophomore Megan Quinn and Moreland held the Pirates to just the four runs on six hits. Quinn gave up just one earned run in 4 1/3 innings and had three strikeouts, while Moreland pitched the rest of the way and gave up one earned run and had also had three strikeouts.

“Megan and Izzy worked really well together,” Chapman said. “Megan pitched really strong. Everything was working for her. She hit her spots, made them put the ball in play and our defense made plays. Same with Izzy. She came in and Piper didn’t adjust to what Izzy offered. Those two are pitching really well down the stretch and are going to be huge for us this week in our regional.”

The Lady Cats begin postseason play Tuesday as they travel to the Eudora regional. Louisburg earned the No. 10 seed and will face No. 7 Tonganoxie at 3 p.m.

If the Lady Cats advance, they will play the winner between No. 2 Eudora and No. 15 Paola later in the evening.

“I think we are ready for this week,” Chapman said. “We happened to find ourselves in an all-Frontier League regional, which stinks because we don’t see someone we haven’t met, but it’s nice because we know what to expect for the most part. 

“We didn’t play our best last time we played Tongie and we are playing our best softball right now. It’s playoff time. Everyone is 0-0 again and anything can happen.”

Louisburg sophomore Izzy Moreland got the complete game victory as she struck out seven Paola batters in a 7-4 win in the doubleheader opener Tuesday in Paola. The Lady Cats dropped the nightcap, 9-5.

PAOLA — It had been eight years since the last time the Louisburg softball team handed a loss to Paola.

Eight was more than long enough.

The Lady Cats ended their drought against the Panthers as they defeated Paola, 7-4, in the first game of the doubleheader Tuesday in Paola. Louisburg last defeated Paola in 2014, which came in the regional championship game.

Although Louisburg went on to fall in the nightcap, 9-5, it was a positive outing for the Lady Cats as they near the postseason.

“Beating your rival is always a nice feeling,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “I think it’s been awhile since Louisburg has beaten Paola. Our girls played really well in that first game. We had one rough inning of a couple errors and let Paola get back in it. We moved on from it and gave ourselves a nice cushion going into the bottom of the seventh.”

Louisburg broke open a scoreless game with a 3-run third inning thanks to a trio of freshmen.

Freshman Sabra Brueggen singled home freshman Addy Stohs, who reached on a dropped third strike. The next batter, freshman Mackenzie Rooney, doubled and just missed a home run, but scored sophomore Amaya Weilert.

Rooney later scored on a sacrifice fly by senior Mia Wilson. Louisburg would add a run in the fourth and fifth inning to take a 5-0 lead.

Paola cut the lead to one with a four-run fifth inning that was helped a lot by some Lady Cat errors.

Louisburg (7-11) were able to create some cushion in the seventh when it scored twice. A pair of sacrifices from Stohs and Weilert drove home two more runners to help seal the win.

Weilert had a big game for the Lady Cats as she finished with three hits, while Stohs had 2 RBIs in the victory.

“Our girls are hitting the ball really well right now and doing a lot of the little things well at the plate and on the bases to be successful,” Chapman said. “Our offensive game was very much needed early in that game which allowed us to play a little bit looser in the field. We got down a little bit after that rough inning, but then responded at the plate, worked through the adversity and got the job done. Definitely proud of how we played.”

The Lady Cats also got a strong pitching performance from Izzy Moreland. The Louisburg sophomore pitched a complete game and allowed no earned runs and also struck out seven.

It was the starting performance the Lady Cats were hoping for as they were able to get another notch in the win column.

“Izzy was huge on the mound,” Chapman said. “She had innings of complete dominance. She had a couple innings that she had to work out of some tough spots with runners in scoring position. Our defense had her back most of the game and it was awesome to see.”

Errors haunted the Lady Cats in the second game as Paola (5-14) jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two innings — with only one of those runs being earned. Louisburg clawed its way back with three runs in the third and two in the sixth, but could get no closer.

Rooney had a big day at the plate for the Wildcats with four hits and scored two runs. Senior Mia Wilson had three hits and an RBI, while sophomores Ashley Moreau and Megan Quinn each had two hits and an RBI.

Louisburg will conclude its regular season today when it hosts Piper in a Frontier League matchup at Lewis-Young Park.

Louisburg falls to Eudora on Senior Night

In what was a one-game match-up against one of the top teams in Class 4A, Louisburg couldn’t get any traction against Eudora.

The Lady Cats fell to the Cardinals, 13-0, on May 3 at Lewis-Young Park. Eudora senior pitcher Kira Baker shut down the Lady Cat offense to just one hit and struck out 12.

Despite the loss, the Lady Cats had a chance to honor two members of the team prior to its Senior Night contest. Senior Mia Wilson and manager Samantha Hickey were recognized with their parents prior to the game.

Louisburg sophomore Ashley Moreau tags out an Anderson County runner trying to steal thanks to a good throw from catcher Amaya Weilert on Thursday in Garnett.

GARNETT — Fresh off its second sweep of the season last week, the Louisburg softball team wasted no time getting its third.

Louisburg traveled to Anderson County for a doubleheader Thursday and left with a pair of 13-1 and 12-7 victories, which increased the Lady Cats’s win total to six on the season. They had just one win a a year ago.

In all, the Lady Cats combined for 25 runs on 28 hits in the two games to get their fourth straight win.

“I thought Anderson County was another great night for us,” Louisburg coach Nick Chapman said. “Junior varsity and varsity both swept, which I think is a first for our program since I took over. Our JV girls are rocking it out and playing great team softball. Anderson County is a pretty good 3A team and we found a way to grab a couple wins from them. 

“Our bats were hot all night long. We got runners on and found ways to score them whether it was using some small ball or just putting the ball in play and making the defense have to make plays. We had a lot of girls hit the ball hard and found gaps. Our quicker girls were able to lay some awesome bunts down and find a way on base that way and score some runs off that. Everything was clicking for us at the plate.”

Six Louisburg players had multiple-hits in the first game and were led by a three-hit performance from sophomores Ashley Moreau and Izzy Moreland. Both players also finished with a pair of RBIs.

Freshman Addy Stohs had a big day at the plate as well with two hits and 3 RBIs. Senior Mia Wilson also had two hits and drove in a pair of runs. 

Freshmen Mackenzie Rooney and Sabra Brueggen added two hits, while Brueggen and Jenna Cauthon each had a double.

The Lady Cats jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings and never looked back. They added three runs in the fourth, two in the sixth and three more in the seventh to seal the win.

Sophomore Megan Quinn stifled the Anderson County bats in the first game as she had 10 strikeouts in a complete game performance. Quinn allowed just one run on one hit.

“Megan pitched really well,” Chapman said. “She had 10 strikeouts on the night and made them put the ball in play for our defense. She’s continuing to grow on the mound. She does a great job of not giving up a lot of walks and competes very well. I’m very pleased with how Megan is growing every time she steps on the mound.”

Game two was a little closer as the game was tied at 3-all going into the fifth inning. From there, the Lady Cats scored three in the fifth, one in the sixth and five more in the seventh to leave Garnett with the sweep.

Rooney had a big game from the leadoff spot as she had four hits, including a double, and scored all four times she reached.

Moreau had her second-straight three hit performance with a double and 2 RBIs. Wilson and Moreland also had two hits and drove home two runs

Stohs, Brueggen and Cauthon also had a run driven in for Louisburg.

Wilson started the game for Louisburg and had her second consecutive 12 strikeout performance as she gave up three earned runs on five hits.

Moreland took over for Wilson in the fifth inning and she was able to close the game out.

“Mia and Izzy worked very well together to tag team the second win,” Chapman said. “Mia came in with another 12 strikeout night. She got into a little bit of trouble in her last inning, loaded the bases, but Izzy had her back, came in and held the others off with a couple strikeouts to close out that inning. 

“When our pitching staff is on, they are ON and they work together very well. If someone struggles, the next girl has her back when she comes in. I’m very proud of all three of them.”

Louisburg (6-9) is back in action tonight as the Lady Cast host Eudora (13-2) for one game on Senior Night at Lewis-Young Park.

Lady Cats drop make-up game to Ottawa

OTTAWA — Louisburg traveled to Ottawa on Friday for a make-up contest of the second game of a doubleheader that was postponed on Apr. 19.

Louisburg couldn’t keep up with the Ottawa bats in a 14-3 setback at Orlis Cox Park.

“Ottawa was not our best showing,” Chapman said. “We showed up with some old bad habits and didn’t compete very well. We are beating the teams we need to, but we have to learn how to play well against the good teams. That’s our next area of growth. We have two good games this week and we are going to have to step up this week to find ways to give ourselves a chance and compete in all aspects of the game.”

Louisburg took a 1-0 lead in the first when Ashley Moreau scored on a Mia Wilson single.

From there, Ottawa scored three in the first and five more in the second to jump out to a big lead. The Cyclones scored six more in the fourth and took advantage of six Lady Cat errors.

Moreau lead the Lady Cat bats with two hits, while Addy Stohs also had a double for Louisburg.